Emilio Aguinaldo: Anti- Imperialist
Occupation: I am most known for being the revolutionary leader of the Filipinos. My career first began though by being appointed to a municipal position and by becoming the local leader of a revolutionary society fighting Spanish rule over the Philippines. After returning from exile, made possible because of arrangements with the U.S. to fight against Spain, I declared the independence of the Philippines on June 12, 1898. When the United States refused to recognize the immediate and complete independence of my country, I then proceeded to organize and lead a war that lasted three years. At this point, I was captured and signed an oath of allegiance to the United States and issued a peace proclamation on April 19. After retiring, I was again arrested under the assumption that I had collaborated with the Japanese but was later freed in a general amnesty. In 1950, I was named to Council of State, which is an advisory board for the (Filipino) president, and, in later years, was also chairman of a board which dispensed pensions to the remaining veterans of the revolution.

Position: Speaking not only for myself, but also for the Filipino people, we are against the annexation of the Philippines into the United States of America. Our appreciation for American aid in the war with Spain is great; however, the want of the Filipino people is to receive full and complete independence from the United States, like what was granted to Cuba, and for the abuse being received under the cover of investigating conditions, such as the water cure, to cease.

Reasons of Interest:
1. As a native of the Philippines, I do not want to be Americanized, but would like to maintain the culture I have grown up in.
2. As Cuba has been released on its own two feet so as to prosper, so the Filipino people are capable of doing the same.
3. One of the main reasons behind imperialist arguments of annexing the Philippines is for the gain in American power, both globally and economically; this will only serve to give the United States a selfish and bullying mentality.





Works Cited
"EMILIO AGUINALDO." Angelfire. Web. 29 Mar. 2010. <http://www.angelfire.com/on/philpres/aguinaldo.html>.
"Emilio Aguinaldo Biography." BookRags.com. Web. 30 Mar. 2010. <http://www.bookrags.com/biography/emilio-aguinaldo/>.
Woods Jr., Thomas E. "The Anti-Imperialist League and the Battle Against Empire." Ludwig Von Mises Institute, 15 Dec. 2006. Web. 30 Mar. 2010. <http://mises.org/daily/2408>.